Privatisation rolls on

Friday November 22, 2002 12:18

by C. - Art. 133 info group

What did Seamus Brennan have on his mind when he announced privatisation in transport

An examination of the leaked documents (attached) regarding the article 133 committee meetings gives an insight into whats happening to our buses. Seamus Brennan announced the privatisation of 25% of the buses and the abolition of CIE on the same day that this committee met to discuss requests for the liberalisation of transport across Europe.

The NBRU is balloting it's workers about strike action because of this. The IPU is engaged in a dispute with An Post over the pay for postmasters (look at what else was discussed on the 6th). Other workers are beginning to get nervous as the public service workers are being blamed for our national finances - benchmarking looks dodgy and the pressure is really on ahead of partnership.

But the synchronicity of timing on the CIE announcement has to be the biggest clue to whats really going on. Seamus Brennan would of been briefed prior to the Irish rep.'s going over to the 6th Nov. considering requests to liberalise transport under GATS. His announcement, the same day, of Irelands moves in that direction sent a clear message to those attending who could of come from countries less inclined to dismantle their public services.

The bus workers need to be supported.
Watch out for announcements on health and education aroudnt he 27th Nov. (this is the stuff they promised they wouldn't touch? so why are they meeting to discuss it?).

Leaked docs:

> >Preparation of Gats offer from EC and its Member States
> >
> >Tentative timeline
> >
> >2 October 2002
> >Initial assessment in 133-Services Committee of requests to EC and
> >its Member States in the fields of professional and financial
> >services in addition to horizontal issues of real estate and
> >investment.
> >
> >16 October 2002
> >Initial assessment in 133-Services Committee of requests to EC and
> >its Member States in the fields of computer, construction,
> >distribution and business services.
> >Member States complete inital assessment of national level
> >restrictions targeted in incoming requests.
> >
> >21 October 1 November 2002
> >CTS and bilateral meetings in Geneva.
> >
> >6 November 2002
> >Initial assessment in 133-Services Committee of requests to EC and
> >its Member States in the fields of tele-communication, postal- and
> >couriere, environmental, transport and energy services in addition
> >to horizontal issue of mode 4.
> >
> >27 November 2002
> >Initial assessment in 133-Services Committee of requests to EC and
> >its Member States in the fields of Tourism, education, health,
> >audio-visual, recreational andfinancial services in addition to
> >horizontal issues of mode 4, public utilities and subsidies.
> >
> >2-13 December 2002
> >CTS and bilateral meetings in Geneva.
> >
> >18 December 2002
> >Assessment in 133-Services Committee of state of the play.
> >
> >Mid-January 2003
> >Commission present 1st draft initial offer.
> >
> >Mid-February 2003
> >Member States comment on 1st draft.
> >
> >Mid-march 2003
> >Commission present 2nd draft initial offer.
> >
> >End-March 2003
> >Member States endorse initial offer.
> >
> >31 March 2003
> >Submission in Geneva of initial offer.

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Comments (3 of 3)

Any idea what the fallout of bus privatisation in the UK is?

by Phuq Hedd

Fri Nov 22, 2002 18:24

I remember hearing horror stories about how low-paying routes were slashed and people couldn't get the bus from many places. Also about how the wages of the drivers had fallen overall compared to what it was like prior to privatisation.

free transport

by commuter

Fri Nov 22, 2002 20:56

The radical movements in France campaign for free transport and occupy trains etc, while assholes like the sp campaign for cheaper car insurance! Brennan should not get away with jacking up the prices, they need to be lowered at the very least and we need more bus (and cycle) lanes

a sad visitor to your utopia

by alien

Fri Nov 22, 2002 21:11

I think it will be hard to get the public interested in defending public transport, particularily in certain areas such as Jobstown or Clondalkin where bus drivers, piss working class people off by only turning up when it suits them. Ironically the only hope of getting the driver to turn up at all is the evenings when the inspector is hiding and waiting there for them, the red faces and the excuses are something to behold! I know indymedia contributers will never even go to some of these areas but they do exist. The racist comments on these routes are horrific from the smoking louts upstairs.

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Privatisation rolls on

Comments (3 of 3)